The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-01-13


| Cuba was also visited and its entire coast line
was inspected.
CHEMICAL NEWS.
"what is there new in the chemical world2"
asked THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE of Prof ID. w.
! Wiley the Chief Chemist Of the Agricultural
! Department, and one Of the world S authorities
on sugar, when he was casually met the other
day.
WELL" he answered, "the main interest
| with me now is in regard to salyciiic acid.
! have been making a number OF examinations
Of various food products, especially cider, pre-
served meats, canned goods aud such, Tor 1T, and
/ find it very generally used. 1t is the best
antiseptic known, and as il is very cheap IL is
employed pretty nearly everywhere that such
a thing is needed. All the sweet cider that
! yOn buy is preserved by its means"
% is il very deleterious 10 health 2'
"Yes, when used for any length of time IL
! produces sour stomach, eructations and indi-
! gestion. Much of the indigestion and dyspep-
STA that are so common can DO traced directly
10 the use Of articles OF food preserved by sally
/ clio acid"
Are any of the cases of violent sickness that
follow the eating Of canned goods due TO this
cause?"
"No, think not. 1t does not seem TO have
any marked ill-eflects when used only occas-
ionaly. 1t manifests its disturbing action only
after il has been regularly consumed for some
length of time"
"Then there is no great need of special alarm
about it,"
"NO, only it is well fer everybody to know
just what is in food"
"Is there anything new in your special de-
partment-the sugar Industry"
Yes, indeed. The new discovery-saccha-
rine-threatens to reyOlutiOnize the sugar bust
/ ness"
| What is saccharinep"
a ,,oxr g., I,ct. M ro,,nd io cpal far-v0u
know they seem TO he able 10 get almost every
thing out OF coal tar except human beings
which is 300 times as sweet as sugar. You can
not tell il from cane sugar. except by Its supe-
riOr sweetness, and il is perfectly heathful. III
was really discovered in this country, but the
German chemists took il up and deyelopt II.
Now preparations are being made 10 manuiac-
ture il on large scale. and the raisers of sugar
aud the makers and refners Of sugar will have
to look out for themselves"
That viii paralyze the sorghum business
will il not?"
"That remains TO be seen There may be
conditions and circumstances that will change
the whole aspect Of the matter. We shall know
more after awhile"
CIVIL SERVICE FRICTION.
When the legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill comes up for consideration IN
the House, the probabilities are that there will
be lively discussion over the proposition TO
increase the salaries Of the Ciyil-Seryice Com
missiOners as suggested by the President in his
last message TO Congress. 1t is said that the
President would like to see this entire question
fully debated, and that was his principal reason
for recommending additional compensation for
the members of the Commission. gen.
tleman, whose relations with the President
are quite friendly, and who accepted re-
sponsible appointment from him early in the
present administration agrees with this view
Of the situation. He says the President had
several times demonstrated against the per-
sonal attacks made upon him because he has
endeaV0red 10 carry out the civil-service law as
he found il when he took the executive chair,
and that he has grown weary Of the abuse
heaped upon him by politicians who have been
disappointed IN place-hunting. The President
takes the ground that Congress enacted the civil
service law, and there is nothing left for him 10
do but TO execute il. III Congress is tired Of the
statute ii can be repealed, and when the propo-
sition TO increase the Commissioners salary
comes up the Members Of Congress will have the
Issue squarely before them. There is 40 proha-
bility, however, Of any large vote for repeal in
either House.
DISTRESSED WOMAN.
The other day well-dressed lady entered
tho Office of prominent Treasury Official. She
walked directly up to the official, and address
ing him by name, proceeded an loud voice TO
tell him of a conspiracy which bad been formed
against her 10 delraud her out of claim for
several thousand dollars which she supposes she
has againt the Government She rambled on
! in an incoherent manner for about 20 min
utes and the official humored her TO the fallest
extent, agreeing with everything she said.
After she had departed he related her story to
those who were present. She claims 10 have
been a nurse du. N the late war, and imagines
that Congress has passed or is about TO pass q
] lavy arli no her a lnr Ofn
the list Of conspirators who she alleges are OPP
posing her are Senator's Representatives. law.
yers Of national reputation and several distin'
guished army officers who have been dead many
years. She does not appear 10 be in distress OF
ia need Of money, but seems bent on letting Tho
supposed conspirators know that she is awar,
Of their intention TO defraud her. She flied
large batch ofpapers, which she said were sworr
statements Of detectives from various parts o.
, the country, whom she says she has employed
to keep her posted. She left the Office perfectly
satisfied when the official Informed her that th,
I papers She had just placed on Gle would blocl
4 any attempt 10 defraud her tof one cent tina
might bedue her.
D THE NATIONAL GUARD DRILL-GRoUND.
There is said to be disposition on the par
Of certain officials 10 prevent. If possible, tn
use Of the White Lot for the national drill
which will take place here in May. IL is un
derstOod 10 be the intention of the drill mana
gers 10 secure the lot fence il in aud charge al
y admission fee 10 witness the competition 70
the prizes. The lawn on the White Lot wa
formerly great common, oyergrown wit
weeds and used as a dumping ground by tn
: entire community. At an expense OF nearl,
100000 il was transformed into a very hand
some park and is generally used ms drive AM
10 speed horses, the roadways being very suit
able for the purpose. 1t is claimed that tn
; military manuyers of cavalry, artillery an
! infantry would in few days ruin the park an
necessitate the expenditure Of nearly the orig
= nal amount TO put il in its present condition
u The Commissioner Of Public Buildings an
c Grounds, under whose immediate supervision
L the park is placed, will protest against its us
> for the competition, and will not give the pei
"a mission desired by the drill managers withou
y special authority from Congress Gen. Drur
& says that several army officers may witness th
drill in an unofficial capacity. although the
may make a report upon il for the information
N Of the Department. If any officers are r,
!. quested 10 act as judges, they will be above
n 70 do so.
70 NATIONAL ORDNANCE PLANT.
IT Last week the seven naval engineers CON
g. posing the special board on national ordnanc
plant spent day in Pittsburg inspecting III
ID iron aud steel mills. This board was appointe
O. few weeks ago by the Secretary of the Nav
10 submit plans and estimates for the erectio
as OF plant in the Washington Navy Yard for ful
/ ,la "A D.,